Mayor awards cleanest, brightest villages

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan recently awarded the winners of the "Buenas Angeles 2012," the search for the cleanest and brightest barangays of the city, at Marquee Mall's Event Center last January 24.

Pamintuan congratulated all the winners and commended all barangay captains and kagawads in their efforts to make their area beautiful not only during the event but also throughout the year.

"We are doing this search not only to make the barangays look better, but also to promote the spirit of hope among communities and instill the value of cooperation among Angeleños as an important prerequisite to growth and progress," Pamintuan said.

The mayor also lauded the hard work of the Angeles City Tourism Office (ACTO) and all the judges who all came up with the concept of the event, which greatly contributed to the promotion of the tourism program of the city.

Peter de Vera, one of the pioneers and judges of the event, said Buenas Angeles aims to promote the city as a "City of Angels," which also served as a brand for promoting tourism here.

Christine Nunag, head of the Angeles City Toursim Office, added that Buenas Angeles also aims to revive Angeleño culture and traditions.

She encouraged all barangays, business establishments and schools in the area to participate in the next Buenas Angeles.

Barangay San Nicolas won first place in search, followed by Barangay Margot at the second and Barangays Cutcut, Pampang, and Lourdes Northwest as third, fourth and fifth respectively.

According to San Nicolas Chairman Marino Bituin, the efforts of the whole members of the barangay council and the people of San Nicolas are the reasons they won the competition.

He also vowed together with his officials that they will continue to improve the barangay in support to the campaign for tourism of the city by the local government.

Special awards were also given to deserving barangays such as the Most Promising Barangay to Tabun and the Brightest Barangay to Capaya.

The event garnered positive feedback not only within the city but also from visitors who all saw the beauty and glitter of the Christmas decorations of the participating barangays.

ACTO is now looking into the possibility of conducting the event in early October, simultaneous with the Feast of the Guardian Angels. (Reynaldo G. Navales)